Home-style Eagle Brand Banana Pudding

If you’re looking for the ultimate banana pudding recipe, this one’s it!

This Banana Pudding is everything you love about the Southern classic. It’s full, rich, and creamy of cookies and bananas. It combines straightforward convenience with a few extras to give it a richer, silkier texture that’s straightforward enough for everyday dessert but also suited to parties and potlucks.

Banana Pudding Recipe with Cream Cheese

Banana pudding is one of those Southern desserts that instantly makes us feel right at home. We've tried countless versions over the years, and this version (with a little cream cheese twist) is hands down not only our favorite, but everyone we make it for. It’s sweet enough, extra creamy, and always a crowd favorite.

Adding cream cheese is our not-so-secret secret. It takes a familiar classic and makes it feel special without any extra fuss. Whether you’re making it for your own family or bringing it to share with friends, trust us, this banana pudding is the one they’ll request again and again!

Why Straightforward Banana Pudding Recipe With Cream Cheese stays in the rotation

This Southern Banana Pudding is everything you want it to be… creamy, light, and packed with that classic flavor everyone expects.

• No complicated steps – mix, layer, and chill. No stovetop, no fuss.
• Well-balanced texture every time – The pudding stays smooth and fluffy while the wafers soften enough without turning mushy.
• Make-ahead friendly – It actually gets better as it sits, making it suited to holidays.
• That true Southern classic feel – This is the kind of banana pudding people remember and ask for again.

What is Banana Pudding?

It’s actually not banana flavored pudding. Banana pudding is a classic Southern dessert made with layers of creamy pudding, sliced bananas, and vanilla wafers. As it chills, the cookies soften into a cake-like texture, soaking up all that rich, sweet flavor.

Traditional Southern banana pudding is know for it’s fluffy texture and plain ingredients. While some versions are made completely from scratch, others (like this one), use a combination of pantry staples to keep things straightforward without sacrificing that nostalgic, from-scratch taste.

You’ll often see it served at potlucks, holidays, and Sunday suppers across the South. It’s one of those desserts that always shows up and always disappears fast.

Southern Banana Pudding Recipe Ingredients

• Milk
• Instant Pudding
• Cream Cheese
• Sweetened Condensed Milk
• Cool Whip
• Vanilla Wafers
• Bananas

Best Cookies for Banana Pudding

While traditional banana pudding uses vanilla wafer, you can easily swap them out to put your own twist on the classic. Here are a few options to try:

• Vanilla Wafers (Nilla Wafers): The classic choice and what this recipe actually calls for. They soften evenly, adding that nostalgic vanilla flavor everyone loves.
• Shortbread Cookies: slightly, Rich, and buttery crumbly. These give your pudding a bit of an upgrade. They don’t soften as much as wafers.
• Chessmen Cookies: These buttery cookies hold their shape and give the pudding a more decorative look.
• Golden Oreos: If you’re craving something extra sweet, Golden Oreos add both creaminess and the vanilla taste.
• Graham Crackers: Not exactly a cookie, but they had a sweet honey flavor along with a little bit of cinnamon taste that goes well with the bananas.

Fresh Whipped Cream vs. Cool Whip

This recipe uses cool whip but you can use fresh whipped cream if you prefer. If you opt to use fresh whipped cream, be sure to sweeten it.

The difference between the two will be taste and consistency. As far as which is better, this is entirely up to personal preference.

How to cook Banana Pudding with Cream Cheese

Detailed instructions and measurements to make From-scratch Banana Pudding are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

1. Add the pudding mix to a mixing bowl with the milk. Using a hand mixer, mix until it begins to thicken and set aside.
2. In a separate large mixing bowl add the sweetened condensed milk and cream cheese. Using the hand mixer, mix until they are fully combined.
3. Add the pudding mix to the cream cheese and condensed milk mixture and mix completely.

1. Gently fold in the cool whip to the pudding mixture. Be gentle so it keeps some of the air in it.

How to Layer Banana Pudding

1. Line the bottom of a 9×13 casserole dish with vanilla wafers in an even layer.
2. Top the vanilla wafers with sliced bananas.
3. Pour the pudding mixture across the top of the bananas and spread evenly.
4. Top with the remaining vanilla wafers. We like to crush them, but you can also leave them whole.
5. Cover tightly and refrigerate for 4-6 hours (or overnight) before serving. You can serve it right away if you’d like but refrigerating for at least 2 hours will give it a much better flavor and texture.

How to Thicken Banana Pudding

If your banana pudding turn out thinner than you’d like, here a few plain ways to thicken it:

• Chill longer: Banana pudding thickens naturally in the refrigerator. Allow it to chill at least 4-6 hours, preferably overnight.
• Cornstarch slurry: If you’re cooking your pudding from scratch and opting not to use the instant kind, whisk together equal parts cornstarch and cold water. Gradually stir this slurry into the pudding over low heat until thickened. But remember, this is only an option if you swapped the instant pudding mix for pudding from scratch.
• Instant Pudding Mix: If you’re still using instant pudding mix as this recipe calls for, you can reduce the milk slightly (1/4 cup less) to get a thicker consistency.
• Whipped Cream: Gently fold whipped cream into the pudding. It adds extra, thickness, and creaminess flavor.

How to cook Cream Cheese Banana Pudding Ahead of Time

Absolutely! Banana pudding actually tastes even better when it’s made ahead of time because the cookies soften, and the flavors all are ready. To get a house favorite results:

• Prepare the pudding 1 day in advance for a house favorite flavor and texture.
• Cover tightly with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container to prevent the bananas from browning or the pudding from drying out.

Eagle Brand Banana Pudding Recipe Variations

• Vanilla Wafers – you can replace the vanilla wafers with chess cookies. We prefer the vanilla wafers, but some prefer the chess cookies.
• Cool Whip – you can use from-scratch whipped cream if you want. Be sure to sweeten your whipped cream and that it has formed stiff peaks.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk – you technically can use evaporated milk as a substitute for sweetened condensed milk for consistency and texture, but it will Not Have the same flavor. You will lack the sweetness and caramelized flavor if you do this. You will not get the same result.
• Instant Pudding – if you prefer to use from-scratch, you can. We prefer the consistency that instant pudding adds. If you do decide to make the pudding from-scratch, you’ll need to be sure the consistency stays firm.

Tips for Making the Best Banana Pudding Recipe with Condensed Milk

• When whipping your milk and instant pudding mix together, you can stop before it gets thick so that it’s easier to spread. Once it’s thickened slightly, you can place it in the fridge to thicken further.
• Be gentle when folding in the cool whip (or whipped cream). You don’t want it to deflate. Keep some of the air in it by folding gently as you combine it.
• If you want more bananas, go for it! Make it your own. We find that 3 large bananas is the well-balanced ratio.
• You can put whole vanilla wafers across the top. We like the look and taste of them crushed on top.

How to keep Cream Cheese Banana Pudding

This straightforward banana pudding can be stored in the refrigerator as long as it stays covered. You can leave it in an airtight, covered container or cover it will cling style wrap.

Do not leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

How long can Banana Pudding last in the fridge?

From-scratch banana pudding will last up to 3 days in the fridge when stored properly.

Southern Banana Pudding Recipe FAQs